Fr Laurence Essery SDB, a Salesian from Great Britain who is now a member of the Maltese Delegation, is based in Tunisia, where there has been unrest from December 2010. He sent the following report on 17th January 2011.

As you will no doubt know from the TV and press, Tunisia is in turmoil and we in Manouba are not too far from from the 'epicentre', the city of Tunis itself. Yesterday in particular there was a sustained gun battle in the streets around us we believe between the army and police loyal to the ousted president.

Fr Marek and myself went up on the roof to see if we could find out where the shooting was coming from and unwittingly put ourselves at risk, as we found out this morning from friends, of gun fire from the roof of a neighbouring building. There was still shooting at 1 o'clock in the morning. They thought we were snipers but, thank God, their aim was not very good! Later in the evening I received a call from the Maltese consul telling us to keep off the roof at all times!

Today things have been much quieter and we were able to get out and find shops that were still open and get in some supplies. Unless matters deteriorate remarkably we intend staying put and hoping that eventually we will be reopen the school which has been closed along with all other educational establishments since the 11th of January.

Since this news item was published, Fr Marek Rybinski was tragically killed. May he rest in peace. There are reports of his death, and subsequent events, on the ANS web site.